Ones To Watch: Maple’s Pet Dinosaur
Alt-rock lives in the bones of Newcastle based 15-year-old, Maple’s Pet Dinosaur. Cramming driving riffs and ‘90s rock/metal influence into her viral tracks ‘lego’ and ‘chorus’, Maple is an act to look out for.
Image: Chris Cuffaro
Your brand-new track ‘Child’s Play’ really leans into the heavier side of your music. Could you tell us more about this track and its influences?
Yeah I built ‘Child’s Play’ around that big heavy groove. It’s important that song has that muscle because it’s about being a young person and being diminished and discredited because of your age.
I love Pantera and Messhuggah but also more alt-metal stuff like Faith No More so I tried to bring that energy. With ‘Child’s Play’ I wanted to come out of the gates with a brutal riff but then lean into a big hook with some nice runs. I thought the clash of styles would be cool and I’m really happy with how it turned out.
You really blew up on the internet by filming a DIY music video for your track ‘lego’ on your neighbour’s Ring camera. Where did this music video idea come from and how did it change your life?
It basically came because I was doing a proper video and we shot it on old Beta tapes so the editing process took a long time. I always thought the Ring camera had a cool fish-eye lo-fi vibe and I knew I could make a video for free and it might help me get the song out there a bit- I had no idea how many people would end up seeing it.
We actually had heaps of random video concepts for ‘lego’ just to essentially share on socials to start building momentum for the single before the actual music video was released. One was in a public telephone booth, another involved eating ‘lego’ cereal haha maybe I might share them one day.
In 2025, you played Good Things festival and became the youngest artist ever to do so. Take us back to playing this festival!
It was the best experience of my life being the youngest artist to do that tour! When the ‘lego’ video started going crazy, I knew I needed to get the band off the internet and onto live stages because at the core this is a live project that works best on stages and in sweaty rooms. The whole Good Things fam were so nice to us and I think we played well and delivered some good performances. I’m excited to play the festival again one day if they’ll let us.
You met rockstar YUNGBLUD recently. What advice did he give you that you’ve found valuable as an emerging artist?
YUNGBLUD is one of the nicest and sweetest dudes. He basically just told me how important honesty in my songwriting is and to keep pushing and putting everything into my music. He is a big inspiration as a young person who used rock music to affect people in a positive way and he took a lot of time with me that he didn’t have to take and I appreciate that so much.
In May, you’re playing at Groovin The Moo! What are you most looking forward to about playing this festival?
Firstly I love Denzel Curry and I’m so happy we get to share a stage with him, secondly I’m from Newcastle so I know how important Groovin The Moo has been to people and especially kids in regional areas. It’s such a good line up and the festivals has lots of kids going so we are hyped to bring some big energy to the stage.
You’re also still in school! How do you tackle creating music, performing these massive shows and then going back to school the next Monday morning?
It’s definitely difficult to keep focused and being present in the moment, like learning Maths the day after performing at Good Things, I am still riding the high of the show haha. I am really passionate about finishing school and doing well whilst also being focussed on my music and being successful. It’s a hard balance, but I am lucky to have a family who are supportive and also going to a performing arts high school where they are very understanding and are working with me to catch-up and being flexible when I travel or have music commitments that fall during school days.